Exploring northern New Mexico
Trip Start
Nov 22, 2007
1
55
Trip End
Dec 01, 2008
Espanola, Taos, Bandelier, and Tent Rocks,
New Mexico,
United States
Friday, October 17, 2008
New Mexico is a state that has a multitude of things to do for those who like the outdoors as well as a number of scenic drives. We spent some time camping in Espanola, using that as a base for motorcycle rides to a number of scenic areas. We took a day ride tour on State Road 68 along the Rio Grande, through BLM land to the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, then circling back through the Carson Nation Forest, to the hot springs of Ojo Caliente and back to Espanola. Part of the ride took us on an unpaved national forest road (where we saw a real, live tarantula crossing the street!). The road leads up to the top of a mesa flanked on one side by the Rio Grande and the other, the Carson National Forest. Interestingly, there is a section of road atop the mesa near the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge where homesteaders can live in relative freedom from all of society's rules and regulations, called "Carson Estates." Along this road, there are wooden structures (shacks really), trailers, RVs, tents, and even some lovely modular homes
001 Carson Estates Dirt Road to Gorge Bridge
. We struck up a conversation with an artisan selling her wares on the side of the road at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. She told us she bought a plot of land there over the internet and has lived there for about 10 years. She loves it, but said you need to be able to protect yourself, since there is no law enforcement to speak of, and no covenants or other restrictions on landowners in the community. A plot of land with incredible views for just $2500, but you have to want to live with no basic amenities (no phone, water, electric, or sewer, etc.). Talk about a simple life!We also spent a couple days in Taos and took a day trip called the Enchanted Circle. The Enchanted Circle is an 80 mile ride from Taos Pueblo around Wheeler Peak, through national forest land and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, across valley farmland, and through a number of small towns including Questa, Red River, Eagle Nest, and Angel Fire. Most of these small towns make their money on the ski crowds in the winter, and are beautiful to see any time of year. There was snow on Wheeler Peak-the highest mountain that lies smack dab in the middle of these towns. But the surrounding areas were still green and gold and red with autumn.
From Taos, we headed south toward Los Alamos, and camped at Bandelier National Monument
002 Tarantula on the road
. Bandelier has ancient cliff dwellings that you can hike to right from the campground. We had great weather and really enjoyed hiking around Bandelier. Bandelier is on the other side of the caldera from the Jemez Mountains. Because of their volcanic history, these areas area great places for rock hounds. You can find obsidian (rocks that look like black glass), agates, quarts, and other minerals. And you might stumble across some pottery shards from the ancient peoples that used to inhabit these lands. Between Bandelier and Albuquerque there is a place called Tent Rocks-another volcanic phenomenon. These "rocks" are actually piles of volcanic ash that have hardened into "tuff." The hardened tuff then eroded in such a way as to create conical formations that look like-well, yes-tents. The erosion also created slot canyons between the rocks, which are fun to climb as you ascend to the overlook on the trail through Tent Rocks. Here we found more obsidian and something called Apache Tears-which are small partially formed pieces of obsidian that are shaped much like a teardrop. This area is very picturesque and dramatic. From the overlook point at the top of the steep trail you can see three mountain ranges, the Sandia, the Sangre de Cristo, and the Jemez. It is a geologist's dream!
We spent a week exploring these places as we made our way south and east to that home of the most famous of all alien encounters-Roswell, NM. Stay tuned for our adventures to the UFO capital of the world!
